Seventy-two anglers, including an impressive 20 juniors, lined Greenock Esplanade for the 2026 Clyde & Western Region Open Shore Sweepstakes and Junior Open Shore Match.
It is one of the biggest events on the Scottish shore angling calendar, bringing experienced match anglers, juniors, families, organisers and volunteers together for a full day of competitive sea fishing.
“For me, one of the biggest positives was the excellent junior turnout, with 20 young anglers taking part,” said Team Manager Nuno Santos.
Watch the 2026 Clyde & Western Open
The event was also captured on video, giving viewers a closer look at the scale of the match and the anglers competing along Greenock Esplanade.
A Challenging Day on the Shore
There had been some uncertainty in the run-up to the match, with rain appearing in the forecast. Thankfully, the worst of the weather stayed away and anglers were treated to a dry day with light winds.
The entire match was fished on a flooding tide and expectations were high as everyone settled onto their pegs. While the weather proved more comfortable than expected, the fishing itself was considerably more challenging.
The smaller species that can help shore match anglers steadily build a score were largely absent. Most of the catches consisted of dogfish and mackerel, which meant every fish and every scoring opportunity became increasingly important.
On a relatively slow day, consistency was vital. As is so often the case in shore competition, one good fish could make a significant difference to the final standings.
Scroll across to see more photographs from the match.
Junior Open Results
The excellent junior turnout was one of the highlights of the event, with 20 young anglers competing for the 2026 Junior Open title.
Caleb Watson put together an excellent performance to finish with four fish and an impressive 243 points, securing first place in the Junior Open.
- Caleb Watson - 4 fish, 243 points
- Aeron Baxter - 3 fish, 119 points
- Nathan Lockwood - 2 fish, 117 points
- Franky Hamilton - 2 fish, 115 points
- Kaileb McGovern - 2 fish, 110 points
The battle for third place was particularly close, with Nathan Lockwood finishing just two points ahead of Franky Hamilton.
More photographs from the 2026 Clyde & Western Open.
Senior Open Results
Alan Brown produced the standout senior performance of the day. Alan landed eight fish for a superb total of 480 points, giving him a comfortable overall victory.
- Alan Brown - 8 fish, 480 points
- Stan Lynn - 4 fish, 186 points
- Neil Cutler - 6 fish, 129 points
Longest Fish: Jimmy Connell with an impressive 65cm dogfish.
Remaining Zone Placings
- Zone A: Lenny Clark, 302 points; Iain Graham, 178 points
- Zone B: Tommy McCluskey, 105 points; Mike Kyle, 103 points
- Zone C: Vic Hendrie, 175 points; Jimmy Connell, 128 points
Competitors, supporters and presentations from Greenock Esplanade.
More Than a Fishing Match
Although competition was at the centre of the event, the Clyde & Western Open was about much more than the final results.
From the first cast to the final whistle, anglers competed hard while continuing to encourage and support one another. Parents, families, organisers and volunteers all contributed to the atmosphere and helped make the event possible.
A field of 72 anglers, with almost a third of them competing in the junior match, demonstrated both the strength of the event and the enthusiasm that exists for competitive shore angling across Scotland.
“It wasn’t the easiest day’s fishing, but 72 anglers came together and made it another successful day on the shore,” Nuno added.
Supporting the Next Generation
The level of support given to the junior anglers was another important part of the event.
Glasgow Angling Centre and Edinburgh Angling Centre provided sponsorship for the SFSA Under-16 team, including team clothing and £100 worth of gift vouchers. Fishingmegastore.com was also among the event sponsors.
Deals On Reels supplied prizes and generous discounts for the juniors, while Tronixpro continued its support through tackle sponsorship. Further contributions came from the Scott McNicol Memorial Fund and the George Smith Junior Fund.
John Crowther and the Royal West of Scotland Amateur Boat Club also played an important role by hosting the match registration and prize presentation.
“Your support makes a huge difference in helping us grow competitive sea angling and provide opportunities for anglers of all ages.”
A Pathway to Team Scotland
The event comes at an exciting time for Scotland’s young sea anglers, with the introduction of the first SFSA Under-16 Championship.
Nine young anglers will compete across the championship, with the leading six earning selection for Team Scotland Under-16s and the opportunity to represent Scotland internationally in 2027.
Creating a dedicated championship gives young anglers a clear route from events such as the Clyde & Western Junior Open into higher-level competition. It provides the chance to gain experience, develop their match fishing and work towards representing their country.
Congratulations to Caleb Watson on winning the Junior Open, Alan Brown on taking the senior title and every angler who competed along Greenock Esplanade.
It may not have been the easiest day’s fishing, but good sportsmanship, determined angling and an exceptional junior turnout made the 2026 Clyde & Western Region Open another memorable day on the Scottish shore.
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